Reset Your Relationship with Stress (for National Stress Awareness Day)

In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews clinical psychologist Dr. Jenny Taitz about stress and how to manage it. Dr. Taitz defines stress as a mismatch between resources and demands, and they discuss how humans often exacerbate stress through overthinking. Dr. Taitz shares practical tips from her book, "Stress Resets," including reevaluating stress, understanding the transience of emotions, breaking free from rumination, building distress tolerance, taking opposite action, finding purpose, hacking the body and senses, mentally rehearsing, using humor, and plotting joy. She emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and acting opposite to one's emotions to improve well-being and quality of life, even providing actionable strategies for dealing with panic.